School principal Malcolm Hales is helping talented female football players in Barunga overcome the tyranny of distance by driving players to representative matches, clinics and gala days.
For the players and their coach, it’s a 900km round trip to Darwin and 200km round trip to Katherine every week to participate in Northern Territory Australian Football League games. Yet by opening the doors to these high-level matches, Malcolm has provided Arnhem Crows Football Club players with invaluable experiences beyond their community, helping them develop as athletes, leaders and positive role models.
In 2020, Arnhem Crows Football Club entered the Big Rivers Football League and became the first Indigenous community women’s team to play in a senior women’s AFL competition. Since then, they’ve won five premierships in six years, earning 60 women a premiership medallion – a personal achievement they can always remember with great pride.
By championing women’s football, Malcolm is creating opportunities in and beyond football for Barunga’s women.